Strong display from Brady and McAllister at Christmas Cracker

Larne Athletic Club members turned out in numbers for the recent Castlewellan Christmas Cracker race.

A record 426 pairs of runners took on the challenging 8.5-mile route which included sections on road, gravel paths, steep hills and plenty of mud.

In the first of three Larne AC podium places, Bernard Brady and Phelim McAllister ran strongly, finishing 14th overall in 60:00, winning the second-place prize in the male 80-99 combined age category.

Andy Gregg and Bryan Magee finished 55th in 66:36, with Patricia Blair and Sammy Drummond, the first mixed team from the club, finishing 96th (71:21). Billy Thompson and Brian Heron were close behind in 107th (72:19).

Larne AC ladies were also among the prizewinners with Jayne Liddle and Mandy Johnston (294th, 91:35) and Elaine Hall and Bernie Regan (306th, 93:19) winning second and third in the female 100-119 Combined Age category respectively.